Gov. Matt Bevin has scheduled special elections on March 8 for four vacant state House seats.

Democrats have a 50-46 advantage in the state House of Representatives, the last legislative chamber in the south still controlled by Democrats. Four seats are vacant. If Republicans win all of them, they would split power with the Democrats 50-50.

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The special elections will include all or parts of Christian, Trigg, Boyle, Casey, Fayette, Owen, Scott, Boyd and Greenup counties. Former Republican state Reps. Mike Harmon and Ryan Quarles resigned to become state auditor and agriculture commissioner while former Democratic state Reps. John Tilley and Tanya Pullin resigned after Bevin appointed them to new jobs.

Last month, two Democrats announced they were switching parties ahead of the legislative session that begins on Tuesday.